Chapter 80
Early the next morning, Mike opened his eyes to the pleasant sound of a bell.
Glameow was sitting at the head of the bed, lightly pawing at the Soothe Bell around her neck.
The moment she noticed Mike watching, she lowered her paw, stood up, stepped directly across his head, and jumped off the bed.
Now thoroughly awake after being trampled by Glameow, Mike climbed out of bed, washed up, ate breakfast, and took Gengar and the others to Jubilife Trainers’ School.
When he reached the school entrance, Mike was about to send Natsuko a message when Glameow let out a confused cry.
"Meow?"
She seemed to be asking why he wasn’t going inside yet.
"That’s right. I’m a teacher now too."
Mike straightened his clothes, then sent Natsuko a message.
While waiting for her to arrive, he took several photographs of Jubilife Trainers’ School and posted them in his fan group.
[Mike: From now on, please call me Teacher Mike!
{Proud Gengar.jpg}]
[Crazy Silence: How did you end up teaching at Jubilife Trainers’ School now?]
[Mike: The school invited me to teach here for a few days.]
[Immortal_Obesity: Even a deadbeat uploader can become a teacher now?]
[Mike: Student, please mind your manners! From now on, call me Teacher Mike. Thank you.]
While Mike was chatting in the group, he heard Natsuko’s voice.
He looked up and saw her jogging toward him, so he put his phone back into his pocket.
"Good morning, Ms. Natsuko," Mike greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Mike."
Natsuko responded with a faint smile.
"Will you be the one showing me around?" Mike asked.
Natsuko nodded.
"Yes, Teacher Mike. I’ll give you a tour of the school first. Your classes today have been scheduled for the afternoon."
Mike nodded and followed her into Jubilife Trainers’ School.
As one of the most famous schools in the Sinnoh region, the campus covered an enormous area.
Students could be seen everywhere with all kinds of Pokémon beside them. Some even had Pokémon from distant regions such as Unova and Kalos.
Naturally, Pokémon battles were also an essential part of school life.
Mike looked curiously toward a large open field ahead, where a group of students were currently battling.
"That’s one of our battlefields," Natsuko explained. "Many of the senior students practice Pokémon battles there."
"Some students also take part in simulated battles to sharpen their practical skills. It’s part of the school curriculum."
Mike nodded in understanding.
"Because our school has so many students, we also arrange trips to different Gyms before practical courses so they can gain real battling experience."
Natsuko stopped in front of a large building.
"This is our main teaching building."
Mike followed her inside.
A floor plan had been placed beside the stairs, showing the purpose of every classroom on each floor.
"This building has several floors. The lower floors are mainly used by younger students, the teachers’ office is on the third floor, and the upper floors are used by senior students."
Natsuko continued explaining as they climbed the stairs.
"The senior students are usually Trainers who have already challenged several Gyms and returned to strengthen their fundamentals. Their instructors are also experienced and powerful Trainers."
"Our school offers many different courses. Besides the battle-training classes I just mentioned, we also have Pokémon Contest courses, Pokémon care and breeding classes, and beginner courses."
"The Contest classes teach students about Pokémon Contests, while the breeding courses teach them how to care for and raise their Pokémon properly."
Finally, Natsuko pointed toward the upper floors.
"The school also provides specialized foundation courses for students who show exceptional talent."
After showing Mike around the lower floors, Natsuko looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry, Teacher Mike. We’ll have to climb a little farther. Your classroom is on the seventh floor."
Mike looked at the already panting Natsuko and asked in confusion, "If the classroom is on the seventh floor, why didn’t we just take the elevator?"
Natsuko fell silent, and her face quickly turned red.
"I... forgot there was one..."
"And here I thought the building didn’t have an elevator," Mike said with a relieved sigh.
After recovering from her embarrassment, Natsuko asked, "Shall we go see your desk in the teachers’ office now?"
"I have a desk too?" Mike asked in surprise.
Natsuko nodded. "Yes. All the teachers share one office, and I prepared a desk for you yesterday."
"Should we take the elevator this time?"
"No, It’s only on the third floor," Mike replied, walking toward the stairs.
Mike walked past her and headed downstairs.
When they reached the teachers’ office, Mike greeted everyone inside before taking a seat at the desk assigned to him.
It really gave him the feeling of being a homeroom teacher.
Natsuko brought over a folder and handed it to him.
"The schedule is the same as what we discussed yesterday. You’ll teach one class each weekday, while Saturday and Sunday will be reserved for outdoor practical lessons. Those two days may require a little more effort from you."
"Your classes from Monday to Friday have already been arranged. This is your timetable."
Natsuko opened the folder to the next page, revealing the full schedule.
"I’ll also remain with you throughout your classes this week and serve as your teaching assistant."
Gengar immediately emerged from Mike’s shadow, clearly intending to protest that she had stolen his position as teaching assistant!
Without changing his expression, Mike shoved him straight back into the shadow.
"Gar—"
[I object—]
Natsuko handed Mike another card.
"You may decide the content of your lessons yourself."
She then took out a bank card and offered it to him with a smile.
"This contains half of your payment for the week. The remaining half will be paid once your classes are complete."
"No problem."
Mike accepted the card and immediately pushed it into Gengar’s hand.
The moment Gengar felt the card, he stopped struggling and quietly hid it inside the shadow.
"There’s no password on the card. I’ll remind you before your afternoon class begins."
Natsuko then handed Mike another item.
"This is your staff ID. With it, you and your Pokémon may eat three meals a day in the school cafeteria free of charge."
Mike accepted the ID.
"I understand. Thank you."
Natsuko smiled and returned to her own desk.
Mike was still examining his staff ID when a pair of chubby hands suddenly emerged from his shadow, snatched it away, and disappeared again.
"That’s my staff ID," Mike protested quietly.
The shadow didn’t react at all.
Mike sighed.
Forget it.
Gengar was his Pokémon, after all. He might as well let him have his fun.